Envelop-opener



UNITED STATES PATENT EEICE;

BENJAMIN F. LANTZ, OF TAYLORVILLIL ILLINOIS.

ENvELoP-oPENER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 591,651, dated October 12, 1897.

Application led July l, 1897. Serial No. 643,128. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, BENJAMIN F. LANTZ, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Taylorville, in the county of Christian and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Envelop- Openers; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to letters of reference marked thereon, which form a partof this specification.

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in envelop-openers, the object being to provide an envelop-opener of improved construction which is adapted to be used as an attachment for pencils; and the invention consists in the special construction of the device, which embodies a tube having bifurcated end, to which is attached a cutting-blade, the tube also carrying a rubber or eraser which is positioned adjacent to the cutting-blade, as will be hereinafter more fully set forth.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure lis a perspective view of an envelop-opener or pencil attachment constructed in accordance with my invention. Fig. 2 is an end view. Fig. 3 is a side view showing the manner of using the same in opening an envelop, and Fig. et a side view or a view looking toward the edge of an envelop .which is being operated upon.

A refers to a metal tube or sleeve which is adapted to t over the end of a lead-pencil, though it is obvious that the tube may be secured to some other object as a handle, or it may be used independent of any other article. One end of the tube is cut away, so as to be bifurcated and present side portions a CL, separated by a space or recess, as shown, thus providing straight edges a. To one of the end portions of the tube is secured a blade B, which may be a segment of a circle when viewed in plan, and the rounded edge is rigidly attached to one of the end portions of the tube, so that one corner, as b, will be iiush or even with the end of said tube and the other corner b adjacent to the straight wall a of the opposite end portion of the tube.

C refers to a rectangular or other shaped piece of rubber which is clamped between the straight walls or edges a' of the tube A, and said walls engage therewith so as to hold it securely against endwise displacement, but the saine may be moved longitudinallyin the recess or slots, so that it can be adjusted to and from the blade B. The rubber block may be usedfor erasive purposes and serves two other functions, one being to engage with the pocket, so as to prevent the article falling out of the same, the other purpose being as a guide or gage for the envelop.

To use the device as an envelop-opener, the

edge of the envelop is placed in the open end,

so as toabut against the rubber block, the envelop being held in one hand and the tube in the other, and said tube is given a slight turn and drawn along the edge of the envelop, and when so manipulated the point of the blade will sever the end of the envelop.

The device can be operated quickly, as the wide opening at the side serves as a guide.

This device is convenient and can be cheaply made.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. As an article of manufacture, an envelopopener consisting of a body portion having a bifurcated end, na blade secured Vto an endof one of the'side portions so'as tobe4 substantially on a-plane with the end of the opposite side portion.

2. An envelop-opener comprising a tubular body portion one end thereof being slit, a segmental blade secured to one end of one of the.

side portions of said tubular bodyT so as to project partially over the slit, substantially as shown;

3. An envelop-opener comprising a tube havingslots in the side walls of one end of the tube, a blade secured to one end of one of the side lportions of the tube, and a bar of Io cutting-point, and a bar o1' block engaged by N the side Walls of the slot so as to be movable l to and from the blade, substantially as shown and for the purpose set forth. A

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of tWo witnesses.

BENJAMIN F. LANTZ.

Witnesses:

E. R. WRIGHT, JOHN BAUGHMAN. 

